eInterpreter: What was the first IASA Chapter event you attended and what inspired you to go?Fisher: My first IASA event was the spring 2011 Midwest Chapter meeting in Omaha, when a colleague invited me to participate. From the beginning, members were welcoming and approachable.

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What struck me early was the clearly unselfish commitment of the membership to work together, sharing ideas for best practices, even among competitors.

eInterpreter: What is the biggest benefit of having access to insurance education locally to you and your company?Fisher: The greatest benefit is the insider's perspective, sitting alongside practitioners, into the industry landscape...of trends, challenges, and opportunities. IASA provides access to this knowledge and the people who hold that knowledge.

eInterpreter:If money was no object...what would you love to do for a living?

Fisher: What I'm doing now--seriously. Banking has provided me the exposure to see how things work in many industries and companies, not just one. But...if I could have a second part-time job, it would be as a travel writer or narrator perhaps along the lines of Rick Steves or Samantha Brown.

eInterpreter:Do you have any hobbies that could affect your personal insurance premiums?Fisher: Not unless there are special riders for outdoor (wannabe) chefs: I enjoy a weekend afternoon grilling and smoking on my offset barrel smoker. My family and I enjoy trying out new "experiences", particularly anything outdoors: skiing, rafting, hiking, fishing & hunting, travel, and since moving to the Midwest, exploring the many historical sites that reveal the role the region and pioneers played in opening the center and west coast of the country. eInterpreter:Do you volunteer for any other organization other than IASA? If so, which organization and why?Fisher: I continue fundraising for and participate in community organizations that my company and associates support. IASA currently gets the most attention. Among others that over the years stand out as fun and positive have been youth soccer, Scouting, and the INROADS program.eInterpreter:Besides family and friends, what 3 thigns could you NOT live without?
Fisher: That's a rather tough limitation...so much of what we all do revolves around family & friends. OK, it would be our dogs, the outdoors, and my iPad/iBooks (my wife and I are news-hounds).

eInterpreter:How did you first get started in the insurance industry?Fisher: My very first exposure was a college term paper in a finance class analyzing the investment portfolio of an insurance company. The significant presence of the industry in our backyard has made it compelling for us to partner with and serve the insurance market, and our insurance customers encouraged us to join IASA.

eInterpreter: What would you say to a colleague, or even a peer at another company, who has never attended an IASA Chapter event about getting involved?Fisher: I remember clearly and am repeating what was said to me at my first couple of chapter events, at the Midwest: "Get involved; you'll get out more than you put in. Out members are approachable and always accommodating." ...and in St. Louis: "You'll be hooked; you will meet people who will become valued resources and lifetime friends."
To sum it up, the culture of IASA as an organization is truly selfless--people sharing best practices and illustrating the old saying that "a rising tide lifts all boats in the harbor."
eInterpreter:What is your current job and what aspect of your position do you find most rewarding?Fisher: My current responsibilities are in the sale and marketing of corporate treasury and payment services. We facilitate the receivables and payables processing of insurance carriers with automated payment solutions.

The most fun aspect of my job is in the spirited brainstorming among our team and the multiple stakeholders within a carrier – from the CFO to the CIO, billing & accounting teams and customer care group, among others… and the most rewarding arises in building and achieving consensus for a best execution solution that links their collective expectations.

eInterpreter: So after a tough day...is your release a good workout, a certain food, or something over ice?Fisher: Exercising our dogs...we are training (mischievous) Papillon pups for eventual agility competitions.